Section 1 FOUNDATIONS OF MENTORSHIPSample.pdf29 I I SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF MENTORSHIP Mentorship is critical. Though the practice of mentorship has been around for thousands of

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L A U N C H Y O U R L I F E


SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF MENTORSHIP

Section 1 FOUNDATIONS OF MENTORSHIP

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Kickstart Launch Your Life

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Mentorship is critical. Though the practice of mentorship has been around for thousands of years, it is not practiced as much as it ought to be in our present day. The previous generations were much more familiar with the concept of mentorship than those of our modern age.

The Importance of Mentorship

God wants us to do something with ourselves here on earth. Education is supposed to prepare us intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, and physically, for life and our life’s calling. Education is also supposed to prepare us for our eternal calling in heaven with Jesus Christ.

Mentorship is important because it fulfills a concept of _________________.

It’s also important because it prepares us, in a good way, for our ________________ ______________________ and for our economic __________________________ to the world market that we engage in when we work.

Economic Demise

As it turns out, the present economic situation is hurting, badly, in most of the developed nations around the world. This is partially due to education and what education is not doing—it’s not preparing the average person for the calling that God has for him or her in the economic sphere.

Problem #1: Debt

We have an economic demise happening. At least in America, we’re at higher debt levels than ever before.

In the past, when we’ve driven our debt up fairly high (as a percentage of the gross national income) it has been in a period of wartime, but this has not been

1: Character Is PreeminentKevin Swanson

“We’ve driven our debt up not to pay for defending the nation, but for sustain-ing a standard of living, economic condition, enter-tainment and other things that are just making life fun for people but are not really sustaining or developing an economic future for our children and grandchil-dren.”

Kevin Swanson

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Kickstart Launch Your Lifethe case during the last 30 to 40 years.

__________ has increased, as a percentage of the household income, ___________ times over the last years.

The federal debt is increasing exponentially today: far greater than anything we’ve ever experienced in the history of this nation. It doesn’t look like our government has what is needed to bring us back to a sane economic policy.

This means that there will be serious socioeconomic problems in the years to come, unless a worker base can rise up that will compensate for the economic decline of the times.

Problem #2: Birthrate Implosion!

However, the problem is that we’re also experiencing a ________________ _________________.

At one time we had a fairly high worker-to-retiree ratio. It was something like 7 to 2. However, this ratio will be decreasing to 1 to 1 over the next 30 to 40 years, which means there will be far fewer workers replacing the average retiree. This will make it extremely difficult for the economy to thrive, much less survive, in the future.

Popular opinion holds great faith in the character of the men and women in the workplace today, and believes that, though there are going to be far less workers to replace the retirees, the caliber of the workers that are in the marketplace will compensate for the declining numbers of workers.

Problem #3: Few High-Character Workers

The problem with this mindset is that people of high character are extremely rare.There are many reasons for this.

We lack ______________. We lack ________________.

_____% of kids are born without fathers, up from _____% in 1960.

Young men are not growing up. ______% of young men aren’t grown up by age 30, up from _____% in 1970.

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SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF MENTORSHIPThe reason for this percentage, of course, is that young men are not focused, they’re not prepared, they’re not mentored, they have no real goals in life, no real purpose for life, and they’re probably not going anywhere in life. They’re playing games.

They’re playing lots of _________ while Rome _________.

The Roman empire was declining because people were focused on what they called “bread and games.” They were interested in the Colosseum, they were interested in the social welfare programs that were sustaining them, and they were interested in playing games. This was what they were doing while the hordes ran down into Rome and destroyed the Roman empire.

Foundation #1: Character

_________________ is preeminent in the _________________ of a child.

The Bible on Education

There was a book written on a theory of education: on giving ______________, _____________, and _______________ to a young man or young woman. This book happens to be the book of ____________________.

As Christians, we must go back to God’s theory of education, which is the book of Proverbs, and we must ask the very simple question, “what is education all about?” The book of Proverbs reveals that a good education is not so much concerned with geometry, geology, or geography as it is concerned with character.

The Bible presents a form of education that is rooted in the idea of ____________.

Preparing a human being for life is something like constructing a building. The studs, the drywall, and the foundation of education ought to be character. An academic education may present geology, geometry, and geography to a student, but those aspects are really just the wallpaper, paint, and wall hangings of the building. It makes the place liveable, but it’s not the substance of the building.

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WorkertoRetireeRatio

“Eventually a society loses the will to live, doesn’t have what it takes to sustain the economic future of the na-tions and, I don’t believe we have enough character to maintain the towers that we have built over last 100 years.”

Kevin Swanson

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Kickstart Launch Your LifeWhen teaching our children, we shouldn’t give them all the answers or make it easy on them. Instead, we should challenge them in the area of character, because there is always a “lion” in the road.

Unless you have the attitude to ___________ into it, and ____________ it, and ____________ it to the ground, you haven’t learned the lesson that you needed to learn in your math study.

A parent should take his children outside, point to the lion, and say “This is how you deal with lions.” Then he should take out his .45, put it in the head of the lion, pull the trigger, and go plow his fields. This is the kind of attitude of diligence a young man should learn through the education program he is engaged in.

Many believe they will learn the necessary character traits for life outside of their formal educational program, but God doesn’t present education in that form at all. He weaves it together so that the young person is constantly developing character. It’s a 7/24 process.

Granted, this is not the focus of most educational systems today. Our educational systems aren’t focused on character.

Schools are meant to educate in __________ or _____________, not in the area of ____________.

God desires that anyone who disciples or educates children, no matter where or how they do it, use this system of education: with character woven into every aspect of study.

Dr. Thomas Stanley’s Keys to Success

The Millionaire Next Door is a book in which Dr. Thomas Stanley surveys 722 American millionaires. He asks them, “What is it that contributed to your success?”

Key to Success #26: I did very well in _________________.

Key to Success #1: Tell the _______________

Proverbs is God’s book on wisdom. Proverbs is God’s theory of education. Therefore, it should be of interest to us that the most repeated lesson in the book of Proverbs is the use of the

“Character is, in the long run, the decisive factor in the life of individuals and of nations alike.”

Theodore Roosevelt

The lazy man says, “There is a lion out-side! I shall be slain in the streets!”

Proverbs 22:13

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SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF MENTORSHIPtongue and the importance of truthfulness. God teaches this lesson again and again because it is not a lesson that is easily learned.

People who tell the truth will receive tremendous success in the marketplace, yet it typically takes a mentor, teacher, discipler, parent, or somebody who is vitally interested in the spiritual, physical, and economic success of that person, to successfully communicate the message of truthfulness.

Key to Success #2: ____________________

Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, which, having no captain, overseer, or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest. How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep—so shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, and your need like an armed man. Proverbs 6:6-11

Key to Success #3: ______________-________________

Key to Success #4: Getting ____________ with _____________.

If a young man does not know how to get along with others as a consummate peacemaker, he will never survive in the business workplace. Peacemaking is one of the top three most important things that a young man will need to do every day if he hopes to be a responsible leader in business or church.

Key to Success #5: Getting a ______________ ____________.

_______________ is preeminent in the ____________ of a child.

“Most people say that it is intellect which makes a great scientist. They are wrong: it is character.”

Albert Einstein

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AssignmentsSession Instructions

1. Watch the video for Session 1 and fill in all the workbook blanks (you may need to pause or rewind the video).

2. Read through the Self Evaluation and Life Application assignments below, then reread all of Session 1 with these in mind.

3. Complete the Self Evaluation and Life Application assignments below.

Self Evaluation

1.1 What is the single most important lesson you learned in this session, and how can you apply it to your life? What is the first step you need to take?

Character is not what you “clothe” yourself in, it is the “facial features” of who you are.

1.2 When you look at your own character, what do you see as your three strongest, positive character traits?

1.3 What do you see as your three strongest, negative character traits? (As needed, talk to those who are close to you, parents, siblings, etc.)

1.4 What needs to happen in your life to cultivate positive character traits and weed out negative ones?

1.5 What are you responsible to do?

Life Application

1.6 Follow through on your most important lesson and take the first step in applying it to your life.

1.7 Take the positive and negative character traits

“Do you want to be successful? Read the book of Proverbs. Do you want to be successful? Begin to work these character traits into the warp and the woof of your life.”

Kevin Swanson

“Believe it or not, God must have learned something from the millionaires. Or was it the other way around? Maybe the million-aires learned something from God.”

Kevin Swanson

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SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF MENTORSHIPthat you’ve identified and accept responsibility. Resolve before God that by His power you will be about striving to have a character like His. Write out a commitment starting with, “By God’s grace, I resolve to…”

1.8 Go to your parents and ask them to read your commitment, pray with you, hold you accountable, help you find answers, and give you feedback on how you are progressing.

1.9 EXPERT ASSIGNMENT: Keep a weekly record of how each week has gone in the pursuit of godly character. Save this for your children.

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Review - Foundation #1: Character Is Preeminent

The last segment revealed that one must study the Bible in order to determine the best way to educate a child.

The Bible focuses on ____________ and ___________ as preeminent in the education of a child.

Foundation #2: Relationships

If we are going to learn about character, we will need:

1. The book of _________________

2. _______________ with people who are willing to supply training and education in character.

If a student is not interested in receiving wisdom from his teacher, and if he does not want to walk alongside mentors who care about his future, then the educational process laid out in the book of Proverbs will not work.

If, on the other hand, a student is interested in learning about character and wants to submit to the instruction, knowledge, wisdom, and correction of his mentor, then he will be successful.

If children, students, or mentees are _____________ ____________ constantly, are not willing to be part of the program, and are not willing to be _________________, then they are playing the part of the _________________.

That is why the book of Proverbs constantly reminds the student that he must submit to the instruction and knowledge of the teacher.

What Would Jesus Do?

One of the best pictures of education, discipleship, and mentorship is the example of the

____________ _______________ ______________.

In this discussion it is important to remember that the Bible presents a solid approach to education and discipleship in the living paradigm of Jesus Christ. Certainly, there can be no

2: Relationships and Life IntegrationKevin Swanson

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SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF MENTORSHIPquestion about the wisdom of Jesus Christ’s method of discipleship. He chose twelve disciples to be with Him for three years.

You have to establish ______________ ________________ relationships.

One of the things essential to mentorship and the development of character is the relationship between the mentor and the one being mentored. Jesus first made it a point to tell His disciples that He loved them. When that was established, He then taught them, and finally, He gave His life for them.

Jesus Christ is our great __________________ of a mentor.

It’s very difficult to find people willing to practice mentorship because they are not willing to sacrifice their time, their resources, and their lives, for those that they are trying to help.

Relationships are central—they are the very heart of establishing a good, solid, education for a young person. Once there is a solid relationship established, the mentor can then focus on some of the biggest, most important lessons—which usually are the character lessons.

The relationship between the mentor and the apprentice is very important. Why?

Because the real focus of mentorship is the ____________________ development of the apprentice in that relationship.

Pride is the number _______________ sin issue in young men.

When a mentor spends time with his apprentice for six months, eight months, or a year, he will see the worst character traits show up in that person. That is when the mentorship is most effective. That is the point at which the mentor can look his apprentice in the eye and say, “I think you have a pride issue. You really should deal with this. Let me pray over you for this right now.” That is the essence of mentorship.

Christian teachers, mentors, fathers, and mothers must give due attention to the important area of character, or they will not provide the discipleship necessary to launch young men and young women into life. The reason why there is very little focus on character in most educational programs is because most

My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.

Proverbs 23:26

“I never had a seminary profes-sor say, “I’m look-ing at your paper here, and I see you have a pride issue.”

Kevin Swanson

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Kickstart Launch Your Lifeeducational programs don’t include a solid relationship between the student and the teacher.

Relationships are of no use, whatsoever, in the Greek theory of education that’s been imposed on most of the universities and K-12 schools in our countries today. For that reason, our society’s systems are failing. For that reason, our economic systems will not survive.

A healthy and a good economy is a function of the ______________ of the _________________.

Christians can “come out from among” the secular programs “and be separate.” Christians can develop their own systems, develop their own mentorships, and over time, develop a stronger educational, mentorship approach, with stronger micro-economies in the years to come.

Eagles or Turkeys?

If a student signs up for the turkey academy where the educational approach negates the fear of God, humility, and the character traits in the book of Proverbs, that student will graduate as a turkey! But if a student goes to the eagle academy, where he or she learns the wonderful lessons of the book of Proverbs and the lessons of faith and character, that student will be trained, by God’s grace, to soar like an eagle and contribute greatly to his or her successful family economy in the years to come.

Relationship Bootcamp

How does an apprentice contribute in his relationship with his mentor? He must love his mentor, respect his mentor, and honor his mentor.

It is that easy. It is the basic principles in God’s word regarding relationships with other people.

“Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise: that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” Ephesians 6:2-3

When you learn to ___________________, and _________________, and ________________ to those counsellors and mentors that God has put into your life, you will be very successful.

1. Contribute ______________ to the relationship.

2. Look for the ________________ __________________ relationship.

It’s hard to soar like ea-gles, when the people you work with are turkeys.”

A common aphorism

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Foundation #3: Life Integration

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

James 1:22-24

A person who hears something but doesn’t apply it to his life, never does anything with it, and just lets it sit in his brain, is like someone who looks in the mirror and immediately forgets what he saw.

97% of education is a total waste of time, unless there is a mentor or a teacher who understands that education is not about ______________ ____________ into somebody’s brain, but instead knows it is about __________ ___________ with the facts.

Once you get the knowledge you’re only ___________ ______________. The education process has not been ____________.

A person who has a ______________ _______________ education not only learns things, but knows exactly how to _______________ those things in real life.

Education Today

The majority of billionaires never graduated from ______________.

Our systems of higher education are not really built to prepare men and women to contribute to the economy. College is designed to give young men and women a certain worldview, though it usually doesn’t even show men and

½gt 2 How

Deep?

“‘A’ students will end up teaching, and ‘B’ students will work for ‘C’ students.”

Kevin Swanson

women how to apply their worldview, and the things they learn, to the real marketplace.

Ask “Why?”

One of the problems is we don’t even ask the question “_______________ are we doing _____________ we’re doing?”

If students don’t know why they’re doing the study-work they’ve been assigned, then they shouldn’t be doing it. Before they do it, they should understand the purpose behind it!

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Kickstart Launch Your Life“The reason why we’re teaching grammar is not so that when Emily is 29 years old she will get out of bed in the morning, sit down, and do more grammar because she has prepared all her life to do nothing but grammar. No, the reason you study grammar is so you can write letters to Grandma.”

Kevin Swanson

Theory vs. Practice

The problem with education today is that it’s more about the ________________ than about the ________________.

Education today can be compared to teaching someone to ride a bike. Perhaps they take “Bikology” for twelve long years, studying “Bike Assembly,” “Bike Statics,” “Bike Dynamics,” and a “Bike Accident Recovery Workshop,” etc., but they never actually get on the bike. It is obvious that this would be a useless education.

However, this is the way education is practiced today, which is why education is worth less and less in the real world. Modern education does not respect God’s principle of life integration.

After sitting in an institution and gaining only head knowledge, a student quickly becomes bigheaded and proud. Most education received through secular systems gives only a form of knowledge that puffs up—nothing that can actually be applied usefully in the marketplace.

Mentorship: Hope for the Future

Mentorship is absolutely essential for _________________.

Without something like a Copernican revolution in education, our economies will never, ever recover. The Japanese economy has been on the decline for the last 25 years, and some are saying that the American economy is on the same track. The hope for the future of our economy is God-honoring mentorship that gives young men and women valuable skills for the real world.

Start riding the ______________. It doesn’t matter how many ___________________ you have. Just get on the bike.

“The idea of mentorship is a powerful, revolution-ary, reformational form of education that is go-ing to provide what it will take to reconstruct the entire economic system of America.”

Kevin Swanson

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Those who apply in the marketplace the things that they learn in school, will be some of the most life-relevant, successful people that the world has ever known.

You must _________ integrate the education.

A valuable person is able to gather the disparate pieces of knowledge he has been given, and integrate them into a whole, in order to provide a good service or good product for the marketplace. That is something that college cannot supply, but mentors and experience in the marketplace can.

What Do You Want to Be?

Mentorship is also a great opportunity for the _________________ of one’s ________________.

Many young people don’t know exactly what vocation is right for them. Therefore, to determine their calling, they must “jump into the water,” so to speak, in order to get a feel for the “pool” of opportunity. Perhaps a young man thinks he would like to be an engineer, but he’s not sure which type it should be—whether civil engineer, electronic engineer, or mechanical engineer.

He could try to work for a civil engineer for a while, to get a feel for civil engineering. He may find out that it is not exactly what he wants to do, so he could then move into trying out computer engineering for a little while. Pretty soon he will center in on the calling that God has for his life.

But how would you know your calling unless you actually ______________ into the _____________?

If you enter into mentorship early on, you can certify your calling. Mentorship is a powerful way not just to life-integrate, but also to certify the calling on your life.

“I had learned the knowledge; I just didn’t know how to plug it into any-thing.”

Kevin Swanson

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AssignmentsSession Instructions

1. Watch the video for Session 2 and fill in all the workbook blanks (you may need to pause or rewind the video).

2. Read through the Self Evaluation and Life Application assignments below, then reread all of Session 2 with these in mind.

3. Complete the Self Evaluation and Life Application assignments below.

Self Evaluation

2.1 What is the single most important lesson you learned in this session, and how can you apply it to your life? What is the first step you need to take?

Looking at your own life:

2.2 What are 1-3 main areas in which you are gaining knowledge right now, especially as it pertains to an area of your interest?

2.3 What are two simple ways (for example, a project around the house) you could apply that knowledge to raise your level of experience? Get input from your parents.

Life Application

2.4 Follow through on your most important lesson and take the first step in applying it to your life.

2.5 Start applying your knowledge so that you grow (a) in skill and (b) your ability to meet the needs of others.

Documents

Section 1 FOUNDATIONS OF MENTORSHIPSample.pdf29 I I SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF MENTORSHIP Mentorship is critical. Though the practice of mentorship has been around for thousands of